her father, Thomas Hammersley, banker to the Prince of Wales (later George IV).

The Prince of Wales was loaned money by the company, which held a casket of royal jewels as security, as evidenced by a letter from the Prince Regent to W. Morland and T. Hammersley dated 10 May 1791 which states '... in order to secure the payment of the said sum of £25,000 … his said Royal Highness hath delivered to the said William Morland and Thomas Hammersley … a casket covered with red morocco leather containing a diamond epaulette, a diamond star, a diamond George, a diamond garter and sundry diamond trinkets and ornaments belonging to his Royal Highness …. Note that £25,000 in 1791 is equivalent to about $5-10m today. (Wikipedia states: The problem of the Prince of Wales's debts, which amounted to the extraordinary sum of £630,000 (equal to £49,820,000 today) in 1795, was solved (at least temporarily) by Parliament. Being unwilling to make an outright grant to relieve these debts, it provided him an additional sum of £65,000 (equal to £5,140,000 today) per annum.] In 1803, a further £60,000 (equal to £4,486,000 today) was added, and the Prince of Wales's debts of 1795 were finally cleared in 1806, although the debts he had incurred since 1795 remained)

------------------------------------------------------------

Diana was remembered as a peculiarly sweet woman, devoted to her family and household and deeply religious. She represented in her beliefs and practice the survival of the old nonjuring type of Churchmanship, which had never completely died out even under the depressing influences of the eighteenth century.

1812, August 28 - Last Will and Testament of her father Thomas Hammersley

Will proved in the Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury. The will stipulated that "on the marriage of George Hills and Diana Hammersley that 4831 British Pounds, 19 shillings and 3 pence - 3 per cent consolidated bank annuities should be purchased in the names of James Halford and Hugh Hammersley and settled upon the trusts..which purchase hath accordingly been made and the said Charles Greenwood in consideration of the natural love and affection which he bore towards the said Diana Hammersley his Niece did agree to advance on the said marriage in augmentation of the fortune of the said Diana Hammersley the sum of one thousand pounds and the further sum of one thousand pounds payable upon the death of her said mother ..."

1813 March 10 - Indenture - Marriage settlement drawn up:

"Whereas by an Indenture of five parts bearing date the 10th day of March 1813" (allocation to his family - in five parts - as part of the will of Thomas Hammersley and Marriage Settlement)

"that Diana receive One Thousand Pounds after her father's demise and another One Thousand Pounds after the demise of her mother, Ann Hammersley (nee Greenwood) - which it had accordingly been in the names of the said James Halford and Hugh Hammersley in the purchase of British Pounds 3354 at 3 per cent reduced annuities should be secured on real estate of Charles Greenwood and when paid should be invested in the purchase of Sperland(?sp) Reduced Bank Annuities in the Names of the said James Halford and Hugh Hammersley and that both the said sum and that the same sum of British Pounds Two Thousand Pounds should be settled Upon Trust until the solemnization of the said intended marriage ...." Upon her marriage, the interest dividends went "during his life" to George Hills "for his and his Assigns their proper use and benefit

1813 March 11, George Hills and Diana Hammersley were married in Kensington, London, UK, her father having predeceased her. [Cambridge Chronicle and Journal, Fri 26 Mar 1813 - also The Literary Panorama 1813, page 685. N.B. the marriage of Elizabeth Allfree is also mentioned on page 686 - her sister Sarah married Daniel McSwiney whose son J.H.H. McSwiney married Emily Hills, the daughter of this George and Diana Hills. ]

George and Diana had eight children - Emily was the youngest.

Two of her daughters married into the Arden family, who were descendants of William Shakespeare.

[Diana, George and infant daughter, Dianna, had recently moved from 76 Pall Mall, London, to Royal Tunbridge Wells where they took up residence on The Parade.]

My Dear Di

Granny wrote yesterday to thank you for the good news of your arrival at Tunbridge and I cannot withold my Pen today to say how happy it made me – and how grateful I am to the Giver of all mercies for his various blessings bestowed continually upon me, your recovery from Lying in – the perfect well being of the pretty Infant [Diana - born Pall Mall, London]. The success of a journey in this severe weather – and above all I praise God for bestowing upon you – one of the tenderest of husbands – but My Love I begin to think he is too fond of you – so you see I am never satisfied – yet My Di I am – thus far …….. your George as you call him

...............his letter arrives – many thanks to him with my kind love – I am certainly more …….with his assurance of your being well – than …..own but I cannot help giving a little advice – do not venture out too soon – and consider how different the air ……in the house.

I hope all your things are arrived safe. I have a beautiful Ornament for you, when I have an opportunity I am going to inquire the value of it – just pray my Dear Di with and thank your uncle (Charles Greenwood) for it – as my first offering to my little Granddaughter Diana Hills I add the little silver tea chest to your Plate under my care – if I live till she speaks I shall have her little thanks. Adieu my dear beloved daughter – who I really do love too much for your own comfort – for I think of you and yours the least thing at night and the first in the morning – yours (torn off)

Ann (rest is torn off)

All well here though though terribly cold*

Pall Mall, March 12th

'(*A severe and very snowy winter was recorded for London, when the Thames (River) froze over - from 27 December 1813 to 27 March 1814 - the last Frost Fair held on the Thames was on 4th Feb 1814. The tidal stretch of the Thames froze for the last time as the old London Bridge was removed, and other factors helped increase the rivers flow, preventing ice forming again.)'

between "George Hills heretofore of Clare in the County of Suffolk, but now of Colchester in the County of Essex Esquire a Captain in the Royal Navy of the first part - Elizabeth Laverock of Bermondsey Square in the County of Surrey Spinster of the second part and Edward Bridger of (Bridger and Adams) Angel Court Throgmorton St. in the City of London Gentleman of the third part....................."

This Annuity document of 13 handwritten pages referred to Diana's original Marriage Settlement - Indenture mentioned earlier and as per the terms of the Will of her father Thomas Hammersley - and a loan to George Hills using the marriage settlement investments as collateral by Ms. Laverock, with the expection of repayment to her of 180.2s.6d. annually)

Diana's sister Mary Hammersley married Charles Barker in 1827. (NB Diana's husband, George Hills, was the son of Lydia Barker so Charles may have been his first cousin.)

1828 George Hills and his wife Diana continue to experience financial difficulties, evidenced by an exchange of letters on the 1st and 4th February between Diana and her niece Frances Ann Smith of Woodhall Park (a vast estate in Watton, Hertfordshire) on the subject of a loan to Diana. Frances turned down her aunt's request because she did not feel justified broaching the subject to her husband when he already had numerous calls upon him of a similar nature. She recommended that Diana call upon other 'nearest' 'opulent' relatives.

Letter from Windsor Castle

1832 Diana was mentioned by *King William IV's private secretary (Sir Herbert Taylor) in a letter (see documents attached) from Windsor Castle on August 10 1832 written to her sister-in-law Mrs. Ward (wife of Bishop Ward of Sodor and Man, Isle of Man). (King William IV was the younger brother of King George VI, who was the Prince of Wales who placed his banking needs with her father, Thomas Hammersley)

Census

Lydia

Charles 20

Caroline 20

Emily 19

Harriet Maria 16 (who died of typhus fever in 1845)

Thomas 15

+ family servant

1838 A loan of British Pounds 3300 was secured from Charles Greenwood, Diana's uncle, by George Hills.

1845 Her daughter, Harriet Maria, died aged 23 in 1845 of typhus fever.

1850 April 4th - George Hills, Rear-Admiral - Diana's husband - died.

By the following year she and some of her children had moved from their home at Ashen Hall, Essex, to live with her son George, Minister, in Great Yarmouth, (Co.of) Norfolk

1854 February 12th - Diana died suddenly, on Sunday, only an hour after returning from morning service, at The Parsonage in Great Yarmouth: at the residence of her son, George Hills who at age 33, from 1848 to 1859, served as Minister at St. Nicholas, Great Yarmouth, the largest parish in England. (George later became the first Bishop in Western Canada)

She was buried near her husband and daughter Harriet at Saint Augustine’s Church, Ashen: "The three stained glass windows in the south side of the Chancel commemorate Rear Admiral George Hills, of Ashen Hall, his wife Diana who died in 1854 and Daughter Harriet Maria who died aged 23 in 1845 of typhus fever. Admiral Hills, who embarked on his Naval career in 1792 as a Captain’s servant, was to serve with distinction in 10 ships in the American, Mediterranean, Irish and Home stations before his death in 1852." [Source: Ashen Parish Council Website]